Writing a CV: SGIM 2010 What is a CV and what can it do for you? Your CV is a “professional tool” for life: It serves as a first impression. Assists in preparation of residency, fellowship and job applications and critical for LOR’s Assists in applying for awards, grants, promotions. Your CV provides an overview of your qualifications and accomplishments. Helps to identify areas for improvement and set goals. A “living” document-part of your professional life. Important representation of YOU, demonstrates your accomplishments, experiences, and highlights your future potential. Your CV should help to build a “story” (by noting areas of expertise and interest) A well-written CV can: Demonstrate your qualifications Provide a personal inventory Skills, training, publications Reinforce your self-confidence Remind you of strengths/ weaknesses Help you set professional goals, are you building a “story”? Helps you GET an interview-first impression Five Cs of CV writing Clear- organized Concise- relevant Complete- don’t sell yourself short Consistent – formatting/structure Current- keep information up to date 1 Components of the CV Contact information Education Most current first Honors and Awards Most recent first, include title and date received Professional experience Anything you have been paid to do but only include items important for a medical career, most recent first Research experience Most recent first, short description of work is appropriate Presentations and Publications In order of presentation or publication (oldest first), bold your name, may included accepted but not yet published papers Grants Title and short description ok Professional Memberships List only active ones Extra-curricular Activities and Volunteerism; Service Most recent first, limit descriptions, highlight long term commitments Hobbies and Outside Interests Limit to 5 or less DOS and DON’TS of CV writing DO More than 1 page Be HONEST Use ACTIVE words 2 Be organized List education etc in reverse chronological order Pubs may be in chronological order Include name header Plan and revise Be visually pleasing Include accurate contact information DON’T Have spelling or grammatical errors! Inflate accomplishments Sell yourself short Include Social Security number Include professional license #s Keeping your CV current JUST DO IT! It’s always a work in progress may change based on institutional format Create new categories/update accomplishments Re-organize as appropriate Create an updating system that works for you Current CV electronic for easy updates Don’t eliminate yourself from consideration because of outdated CV Resources ://www.training.nih.gov/careers/careercenter/cv.html multiple links to resources for writing CVs and resumes. 3 Sample CV –you may want to check to see if your institution has a preferred format DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION Current Appointments 2005- General Internal Medicine Clinical Research Fellow, Top Notch University Personal Data Division of General Internal Medicine 1 Hospital Drive Pleasantville, USA. 11111 Ph: 000-555-1212 Fax: 00-555-1234 e-mail: [email protected] Education and Training 1994-98 B.S. The Premed School; Biology cum laude, 1998-01 M.D. A Premiere Medical School 2001-04 Resident in Internal Medicine, Hospital Known for Training in Internal Medicine 2004-05 Chief Medical Resident, Hospital Known for Training in Internal Medicine Professional Experience 2004-05 Instructor of Medicine, Another Premiere Medical School RESEARCH ACTIVITIES Publications 1. - Fellow JQ, Collaborator B, Mentor A. Systematic Review of a Highly Important Condition. JGIM. 2007;1(1)1-6. Fellow JQ, Collaborator A, Mentor A. Definitive Landmark Study of a Highly Important Condition. In press, JGIM. Fellow JQ, Mentor A. A Follow-up Study to the First Definitive Landmark Study. Under review, JGIM. Abstracts and Presentations Fellow, JQ, Collaborator A, Mentor A. Landmark Study of a Highly Important Condition. JGIM. 2007; A25. Oral presentation at the National SGIM Meeting, April 2007, Toronto Canada. 2. Fellow, JQ, Collaborator A, Mentor A. Landmark Study of a Highly Important Condition. Poster presentation at My Regional SGIM Meeting, March 2007, Pleasantville USA. 3. Fellow JQ, Mentor A. A Follow-up Study to the First Definitive Landmark Study. Accepted for oral presentation, National SGIM Meeting, April 2008, Pittsburgh PA. 1. 4 If desired and there are more than a few–you can subdivide publications into categories such as: Peer-Reviewed Original Research Articles Review articles, Commentaries Book Chapters Over time can also limit abstracts and presentations to last 3-5 years and/or delete. Invited presentations (e.g. grand rounds etc) are kept on in a separate section) Extramural sponsorship A Pilot Study for the Treatment of a Highly Important Condition. 1/1/08-12/31/08, $50,000. PI: Jayne Q. Fellow. As above, once there are enough grants, they can be subdivided into section and limited to some time period. Grants, Current Grants, Pending Grants, Previous (3 years) Contracts, Current and Previous EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES Teaching 2005- Comprehensive Internal Medicine Service, 1 month each year; Top Notch University 2007 Noon conference lecture to medical housestaff, “Diagnosis and Management of Very Important Problem”; Good Samaritan Hospital, Pleasantville USA. As above, once there is enough teaching, it can be subdivided into section and limited to some time period. Classroom instruction Clinical instruction CME instruction Curricula To be added later when/if appropriate: M entoring: Mentees Advisees Thesis Committees Training Grant Participation Editorial Activities: Editorial Board Appointments Journal Peer Review Activities CLINICAL ACTIVITIES Certification 2004 USA License #007 2005 Diplomate of The American Board of Internal Medicine Service Responsibilities 2005- General medicine inpatient consults, 2-4 weeks per year 2005- General medicine clinic at The Outpatient Clinic, ½ day per week ORGANIZATIONAL ACTIVITIES Institutional Administrative Appointments 5 2005- Member, School of Medicine Very Important Committee Professional Societies 2004- Society of General Internal Medicine Conference Organizer 2007- Member of 4 person organizing committee for the USA Regional Research Fellows’ Symposium, held April 9, 2007, Pleasantville USA. To be added later: Grant Review Groups RECOGNITION Awards, honors 1994-98 Dean's List, The Premiere University 2000 Elected to Alpha Omega Alpha, National Medical Honor Society 2006 Elected to Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health 2007 Best Research Abstract -- Fellows Division, Society of General Internal Medicine, My Regional Meeting, March 2007, Pleasantville USA. When appropriate can add on: Invited Talks Invited Review Articles Invited Editorials Can also have the following header for things that are important/significant, but may not be captured elsewhere: OTHER PROFESSI ON AL ACCOM PLI SHM EN TS: 6 How to make the most of your interview day! Preparation Steps: Logistics · If you can, be involved in setting up your day –identify and request to meet with people you are interested in working with. Make sure you meet with junior as well as senior people. · Find out about the job talk. o Will you be asked to give one at this visit? Sometimes this is done on the 2nd. o Find out the audience. Department or division or mixed? Faculty only, or staff and trainees too? Part of regular seminar (e.g. grand rounds) – if so what is usual goal of that meeting? o How long do you have for the talk? (Even if scheduled for an hour, try to get a sense if it is functionally shorter because people have to leave.) Preparations Steps: Personal · Identify your goals! o Outline your ideal job and your acceptable job, and be prepared to discuss. · Prepare the answers to some standard questions: o Q: Tell me about yourself. [A: Highlight your training and accomplishments.] o Q: Why are you interested in this institution/school/etc? Would you really move here? [A: This is a gut check. Make sure to personalize the answer to each institution.] o Q: What are your weaknesses? [A: Give a thoughtful answer to demonstrate selfawareness; but no need to show all your flaws.] o Q: Do you have any questions for me? [A: Yes! Have a list of thoughtful questions. It is a good idea to ask some questions of several different people.] · Do your homework. Find out what you can about the division /department /school /hospital. Get your interview schedule ahead of time and learn about the people interviewing you. Use multiple sources: o Internet site o PubMed and CRISP searches o Mentor and other JHU/GIM faculty –name dropping an acquaintance/friend can break the ice. · Review your own research. Be prepared to give the “sound bites” –most interesting, important and/or novel tidbits—from each project. If the project is not yet completed, summarize what have you already learned, what skills have you gained. Interview Day: The Basics · Dress well. · Be on time; arrive a little early if you can · Develop a good handshake –firm, look person in the eye. · Be courteous to everyone. Remember, even the assistants and staff are interviewing you. · Do NOT speak ill of past employers (you never know who knows whom). 7 Interview Day: What you want and need to know about them. · Remember you are interviewing them too. Have a list of your standard questions and some tailored for each opportunity. · Is there a formal mentoring and review process for junior faculty? · What is the structure/organizational chart? (How many bosses will you have?) · For the leaders (division/department chiefs), what is their vision/mission for the division/department? How do they see you fitting into their vision/mission? · Ask explicitly about the funding for your position. o If C-I, at what point will you be expected to bring in your own funding. How is that usually accomplished (K, Internal grants etc)? o If C-E, how much is clinically funded, vs. funding from the school/ division/ department etc. for teaching. It is important to know who pays the bills. · Ask about the expectations of new faculty for the “unspoken/unwritten” obligations which may include teaching (for C-I), committee work etc. Is there initial protected time from these? · It is OK to ask about the “nitty gritty” (salary, benefits, other resources). Typically this is with the Division Director, and may be in general terms at first –salary range, general benefits package. You will need specifics before deciding. · Be observant of the culture, group chemistry style. You spend many hours at work, you will need to be comfortable and be able to have fun. The Job Talk · Tailor the talk to the job you are seeking (C-I, C-E, program leader/builder etc). · Present your 1-3 best projects, with or without a snap shot of some of your other work. o Consider projects in which you had a big role: your idea, involved in primary data collection, you were first author. Choose one(s) you are most enthusiastic about. · If possible and relevant, demonstrate your theme. Highlight how your work fits together. o If not, highlight the skills you have acquired, how you made the most of opportunities around you. · To conclude your talk, outline your goals for future work. o If relevant, consider them as specific aims. Hint at what your first grant would look like. · Practice your talk so you are sure it fits in the time allotted. o Pay particular attention to transition points. · Be enthusiastic about your work –if you aren’t, you can’t expect others to be. o However, do not overstate the importance or conclusions. · Remember you will be judged not only on the science, but also on how well you present. o Organize the presentation. Speak clearly and without unnecessary jargon. o Acknowledge your collaborators. Following –up · Before leaving, ask about the timeline for making a decision and the next steps. 8 · · · · Send thoughtful, personal thank you notes (email is OK). Highlight again why you want to go there, and how you see yourself fitting in, and what you think you can contribute. o It is best to send notes to everyone you met with if possible. If you are really interested and under pressure from other places, follow-up sooner if needed. If no extra pressure exists, follow-up when reasonable, given the discussed timeline. If you decide to take another position, let them know. The final step is to get the offer in writing. This should include all the necessary information including salary, benefits, other resources (office, computer etc), along with expectations for independent funding, teaching and administrative/service expectations. Resources: Science Careers ( .ScienceCareers.com) Chronicle Careers ( .chronicle.com) 9